Vanguard Magazine

www.vanguardcanada.com OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020 9 S Sit REp The International Test Pilots School (ITPS) located in London, Ontario, was recently awarded a contract to train Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) test pilots and flight test engineers. ITPS came out on top of bids for a Standing Offer to train personnel from the Aerospace Engineering International Test Pilots School in London, ON to train RCAF pilots and engineers Test Establishment (AETE), following an international competition. AETE, based at 4 Wing Cold Lake, AB, is the developmental and engi- neering testing arm and flight test provider for the Canadian Armed Forc- es. The organization is responsible for evaluating new systems slated for installation on all Canadian military aircraft. Through this contract, selected RCAF pilots and engineers will undergo periodic training at ITPS, the only fully accredited and internationally recognized school of flight testing in Canada. ITPS is one of only four Eu- ropean Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)-approved flight test training orga- nizations for both fixed- and rotary-wing test pilots. "We are delighted that the RCAF joins the growing number of NATO and industry customers that choose ITPS as a training provider for their flight test crews," said Giorgio Clementi, ITPS President. "Test pi- lots and flight test engineers will receive world-class training from our expert instructors. Our diverse fleet of training aircraft, including 11 jet trainers, two transonic fighter trainers, a heavy seaplane, and a va- riety of helicopters, will provide the breadth of experience essential for future flight testers." The Standing Offer awarded to ITPS will be in effect for three years, with an option to extend the training agreement for two additional one- year periods. Canada set to begin NATO enhanced Air Policing mission On September 3, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Air Task Force – Ro- mania (ATF-Romania) received their readiness certification from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to begin their enhanced Air Policing mission in Romania. The certification ceremony was held at the Romanian Air Force Base Mihail Kogalniceanu, which will allow the ATF- Romania to conduct this mission under Operation REASSURANCE start- ing from September 5 in Romania. The Air Policing mission will comprise of about 135 Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) members, along with six CF-18 Hornet fighter jets, which will be used to keep the skies over Romania safe until December 2020. The ATF-Romania will work with the Romanian Air Force and be super- vised by NATO command and control as part of Operation REASSURANCE. "Every year, this Air Task Force provides a concrete example of Cana- da's commitment to NATO's collective defence," said MGen Eric Kenny, Commander 1 Canadian Air Division and Joint Forces Air Component Commander. "Air Policing is a critical part of NATO's mandate and is a mis- sion our crews excel at, thanks to their training and experience with our own 24/7/365 NORAD mandate. I know they will take every opportunity to share their knowledge and learn from our Romanian and regional al- lies, as they help secure the Romanian skies." To keep personnel safe during this time of COVID-19, protection mea- sures will be taken to ensure the health and safety of all participants during the mission. The Air Task Force members will work with regional partners and Allies in Romania to minimize the risk associated with CO- VID-19 and to keep personnel and the local population safe. "COVID-19 has not dulled the enthusiasm of the great team that comes with me and I know their knowledge and professionalism will be evident throughout the deployment. Working alongside our NATO allies is criti- cal to collective defence but also provides an invaluable opportunity to learn from one another," said LCol David McLeod, Commander of Air Task Force – Romania. This is the fifth time since 2014 that Canada is sending a task force to Romania in support of NATO's Air Policing. ITPS Hangar. Image ITPS September 21, 2017. Pilots walk towards their CF-188 Hornet aircra on the tarmac at Cerklje Air Force Base, Slovenia during Operation REASSURANCE on September 21, 2017. Photo: Sergeant Daren Kraus.

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